The I-Pad may be great for showing off photos, watching movies, browsing the web and even exploring "enhanced" texts with graphics, but the kindle (and its ilk) does one thing better. It allows the reader to read books in a way that most closely resembles print with font size that can be easily adjusted and no back lighting that makes it easy on the eyes. A small device (smaller and lighter than the I-Pad) that doesn't get hot and doesn't require constant recharging and costs under $200, is a deal. I'm a happy Mac owner, but there's already a lot of Apple backlash. The Kindle is here to stay. Bezos ain't no idiot.

Hans -- You may be right, but I've had this one-task vs multi-function conversation with friends -- even ones who read (but none yet with any who read e-books or actually own a kindle, nook or Sony E-Reader). A lot of people for whatever reason FEEL passionately about this one-function thing and are convinced that EVERYONE wants something that does it all. Time will tell.

Hans -- You may be right, but I've had this one-task vs multi-function conversation with friends -- even ones who read (but none yet with any who read e-books or actually own a kindle, nook or Sony E-Reader). A lot of people for whatever reason FEEL passionately about this one-function thing and are convinced that EVERYONE wants something that does it all. Time will tell.

I have 2 things that do it all, my phone and my laptop. The iPad actually can do less than either of those. Why do I need another one? I even have an old laptop hooked up to the TV with wireless keyboards and mouse for couch top browsing, streaming. More powerful than an iPad, even after all these years. Now if a tablet was just as light and thin as the iPad and could fully replace my laptop....

I personally love multi-function devices, I have been a smart phone user since 2002. But no compromise multi-function. We are not there yet, the screens, weight, and battery life of today's multi-function devices are still not good enough to fully replace single-purpose readers.

I think the article is essentially right - 50 years from now there probably won't be any dedicated e-readers, but something that can duplicate the easy reading screen with the other functionality of the iPad (and probably other stuff we can only dream of. And hopefully buttons).

But until then, something like the Kindle will have the advantage of being more readable and now, being far, far cheaper. The $139 will lead to it being adopted more by average people, as opposed to well, the sort that read the NY Times.

Heck, at $599, the iPad is really competing with laptops, not e-readers. And laptops do oh so more (to the ipad what the ipad is to the Kindle)

Before I bought an ereader I was probably of the same opinion that something like the notion ink adam is the future (and I think you need the dual eink/lcd screen tech). But having taken the plunge then I realise that screen size is the key here. There will be a market for ipad size devices to both read on and do other things (read technical books and make notes etc). But the small dedicated ereader has a market for fiction readers, albeit one with color screen and minimal bezel in time for a small cost ($50). I don't want to sit and read with an ipad, I want a smaller device I can hold in one hand and read with.

Before I bought an ereader I was probably of the same opinion that something like the notion ink adam is the future (and I think you need the dual eink/lcd screen tech). But having taken the plunge then I realise that screen size is the key here. There will be a market for ipad size devices to both read on and do other things (read technical books and make notes etc). But the small dedicated ereader has a market for fiction readers, albeit one with color screen and minimal bezel in time for a small cost ($50). I don't want to sit and read with an ipad, I want a smaller device I can hold in one hand and read with.

I wouldn't want to hold an iPad for hours, either. I read mine propped in an easel and/or on a cushion. Many iPad owners use some type of prop, often cases with stand features. I do all my e-reading on iPad now. The big screen, adjustable backlighting, variety of book-reading apps are great, I find. Not knocking dedicated devices for those who prefer them. It's just that uses and preferences (and eyesight) will vary.

Before I bought an ereader I was probably of the same opinion that something like the notion ink adam is the future (and I think you need the dual eink/lcd screen tech). But having taken the plunge then I realise that screen size is the key here. There will be a market for ipad size devices to both read on and do other things (read technical books and make notes etc). But the small dedicated ereader has a market for fiction readers, albeit one with color screen and minimal bezel in time for a small cost ($50). I don't want to sit and read with an ipad, I want a smaller device I can hold in one hand and read with.

I have both an iPad and dedicated eInk reading devices, and wouldn't want to be without either.

The iPad makes an excellent reading device for reading at home. Its 10" screen is about the same size as a hardback book, and, indeed, the iPad itself is about the same weight as a hardback book. I find reading on it to be very pleasant indeed.

However, when "out and about", a 5" or 6" eInk device is a lot more convenient.

The devices are complimentary; neither is definitively "better" than the other.